why should you not be proud in your religion?
you have a good point though, if you declare that your proud of being in a religion your also kind of saying that other religions aren't as good as yours and they should conform to your beliefs.

Really, not enough options here. I mean, you left out "Jewish" for crissake!

I might have taken a "pagan" option were it available. I'm best described as an agnostic, but I'm sure that (a) there is an intelligent design to the world and (b) there are multiple intelligences responsible.

The long answer is that I think organized religions, like political parties, are total crap and serve only as a method to allow people to stop challenging their beliefs and sink into the intellectually stagnant safety of only hanging around people who agree with them.

you know it might have been worth while to read the Atheist/Agnostic thread...

The long answer is that I think organized religions, like political parties, are total crap and serve only as a method to allow people to stop challenging their beliefs and sink into the intellectually stagnant safety of only hanging around people who agree with them.

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I agree with that, and add - as a way of keeping social order.

@Plague Bearer: Pagan? So what night do you nail the goat to your doorway and drink its still-warm blood?

People are just naturally intellectually lazy. Even without some mastermind scheming to control the populace, people will, out of habit, seek out a "comfort" zone, which usually means making up your mind once, and then only hanging out with people who agree from that point on.

The long answer is that I think organized religions, like political parties, are total crap and serve only as a method to allow people to stop challenging their beliefs and sink into the intellectually stagnant safety of only hanging around people who agree with them.

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I think you're slightly underselling religion. Religions have a couple purposes:
1) make people feel safe
2) make people do things that are good for themselves
3) make people do things that are good for society
4) make people do things that are good for the proprietors of the religion

Different religions have different amounts of each ingredient, but most mainstream religions have some of each.

For a self actualized individual, religion can only be a danger. If you know what's right and wrong, purposes 2 and 3 above aren't necessary. What's left? Saro's covered purpose 1 pretty well, but I think I can add that this unnatural natural tendency towards homogeneity is the most dangerous thing in society. Purpose 4 should make even die hard religious fanatics think a little bit.

I think you're slightly underselling religion. Religions have a couple purposes:
1) make people feel safe
2) make people do things that are good for themselves
3) make people do things that are good for society
4) make people do things that are good for the proprietors of the religion

Different religions have different amounts of each ingredient, but most mainstream religions have some of each.

For a self actualized individual, religion can only be a danger. If you know what's right and wrong, purposes 2 and 3 above aren't necessary. What's left?

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Please don't confuse my use of "organized religion" with "religion".

Religion is great. The concept of "denominations", and having an established, unquestionable church doctrine is ludicrous.

People are just naturally intellectually lazy. Even without some mastermind scheming to control the populace, people will, out of habit, seek out a "comfort" zone, which usually means making up your mind once, and then only hanging out with people who agree from that point on.

Religion is great. The concept of "denominations", and having an established, unquestionable church doctrine is ludicrous.

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Sorry I editted my post after you responded.

By default I assume Religion to be the organized religions, and I agree completely on your view of unquestionable church doctrine in this day and age. I do see think that it served some positive purposes in hisotry.

As for personal religious beliefs, they can be said to have the same 4 tenets as organized religions, just the proprietor of the religion is also the believer in the religion, so 2 and 4 are the same thing. In any case, I see personal religion as just a crutch used to hold up personal moral codes. If you need it, ok, but I don't know why people go through the trouble.